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Keeping Your Van Safe

Tips to protect van and its contents

Published on Friday, 13 November 2015
by Simon O'Donovan

For many people their van isn’t just their mode of transport, it is also vital for their business or to make a living. If you use your van for work purposes it often means your van contains many valuables such as tools, equipment or stock. This can make a van a prime target for burglaries or break ins.

Van drivers need to be well aware of all these threats. We have come up with a few top tips to ensure your van is as safe as possible and maybe even save you money on your insurance policy.

1. Lock up your van

Locking up your van is vital, even if you are just getting out for a few minutes. It only takes a few seconds for a thief to get in and steal your equipment or to drive off with your vehicle. Also, you should ensure your locks are in proper working order.

In addition to central locking, you should consider adding extra internal and external locks to your van. You could also think about getting extra door locks installed if you get in and out of your van on a regular basis as a part of your job. Getting these extra locks installed can be expensive but it is worth it if it helps keep your van from being broken into.

If nothing else, the extra locks may deter criminals from breaking in, the more difficult it looks to get into the less attractive it will be to a thief. Locking your van creates an extra obstacle between the thief and the contents of your van.

2. Install an alarm

While most new vans will have alarms and immobilisers already installed, many older vans probably don’t. Having an alarm will alert you or others if your van is being broken into and could scare potential burglars away. Having an alarm installed might be costly but it could protect your valuables from being stolen and give you better peace of mind.

3. Brand your van

A van that is easy to identify will be less attractive to potential burglars. By branding your van with your company logo or contact details it makes it less appealing to potential burglars. A thief will be much more likely to attempt to steal a generic looking van as it is harder for police to locate.

4. Park your van in a well lit, secure area

Leaving your van in a dark secluded area will make it much easier for a thief to break in and steal the contents of your van. Try not to leave valuable equipment or tools in the van overnight and if possible leave it in a well lit area with CCTV monitoring in place. This will give you the best chance of keeping your van and its contents safe.

While all these tips will help to keep your van safe, we can’t guarantee your van is completely protected. However, having van insurance in place will protect you if anything does happen to your vehicle. Get a Quote or give us a call today for more information.